Laos Laziness

Just when I thought life couldnt get any better, along came Laos. Well, I guess I came along to Laos. Either way, I've got a whole lotta love for this country...

I shared the bus on the way to the border with a bunch of ducks. This I have done before, but this time the ducks were pretty angry (who blames them!) and they got loose in the van, flying around in quite the panic and pooping on the seat beside me. "One last frollick" one quacked to another, and then the owner kicked them and the party was over. I had to bid them adieux to get another stamp in my passport at the border. It's getting pretty ful now and i'm very grateful for that!

I was headed for Don Det, a magical island where so many backpackers have been sucked into their hammocks and never left. Two wonderful Swiss ladies suggested that I visit a water fall first, and I could not refuse. We hiked to a village where some of the sweetest kids I have ever met took us through streams, bushes, and mud bogs until we finally got to the prettiest place for a swim. We ended up staying all day, teaching the eager kids english, while taking swimming breaks in between the giggle fits.

Laos has sadly been hit by more bombs per person than any other country in the world (about 2 million tonnes of it!!!). Since it's proximity to the Ho Chi Minh trail, this part of Southern Lao, where the waterfall is, is particularily bad. Walking through the villages we could see that old bombs became practical everyday items. A huge fuel tank was made into a BBQ and boat, mortars are turned into oil lanterns, flower pots (see pic), and even roof wieghts. Alot of the metal is melted down and made into things like spoons and is then shipped to Thailand as a source of cheap metal. Sadly, as much of this ordnance has yet to be defused, hundreds of people each year are injured and even killed; most being young, curious boys. There is an underlying and false belief that the more rusted a UXO is, the less likely it will detanate. Infact, this makes them more of a danger. The local men who detanate these hazards are like local celebrities, as they are the ones who are still alive...

With this in mind, I wondered why I ventured off into the jungle. I know my dad is shaking his head at me...but dad, I swear it was a well trodden path, and I did not leave the path (except to cross the rivers!!). Anyways, I'm still writing, so the travel goddess is on my side...

So, I got to my original destination; Don Det. Everyone goes to this sleepy island on the Mekong and sits in hammoks all day. Luckily it is not full on 'tourist season' yet and besides some other lazy travellers, we had the island to ourselves. I dont know how long I was there, or how I finally ended up here in Vientien. It's a nice capital city, but I can only tell you that my lazy streak has not gone away; i've spent my whole time at a temple that does magical herbal saunas and massages. I've also had my first bagel and cream cheese on this trip, which might not sound that exciting but it has also been the highlight here!! Oh, the simpler things in life...

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